A new resource for the collections sector will help galleries and museums across the nation better manage their collections, Arts Minister Peter Garrett said today.

Mr Garrett said the new publication Collecting cultural material: principles for best practice will be an invaluable resource particularly for smaller galleries and museums.

“Despite the best efforts of many collecting institutions, provenance information for some cultural material can be incomplete or unobtainable and this book has been designed to give help and guidance.

“It outlines important principles and guidelines, drawing on the experience of some of Australia’s best practitioners and major cultural institutions.

“It is an easy to understand resource setting out a legal and ethical framework for acquiring cultural material and advice regarding due diligence, such as what to do if there are doubts about an object’s legal status, or how to deal with a request for return of an object.

“I congratulate the collaborators on this excellent book and online resource for this initiative and for the work they do under the umbrella of the Heads of Cultural Institutions (HOCI),” Mr Garrett said.

http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/garrett/2009/mr20090903.html